How NCE Works

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why should I trade?

A: Trading will open your door to new customers, generate new sales and increase your volume of business. At the same time, you can buy other goods and services without a cash outlay.

Q: Is bartering something new?

A: Bartering has long been an accepted method of international trade. It is today a $3.5 billion industry worldwide. Many of the Fortune 500 businesses are heavily involved in domestic and international barter.

Q: How does trade work for NCE members?

A: NCE creates a marketplace for thousands of products and services. An NCE member who wishes to buy a product simply uses his NCE card — similar to a bank credit card — to make a purchase with his trade credit. NCE members wishing to buy your product or service follow the same practice. Trades are made at prevailing prices. Monthly statements are mailed to each client showing their purchases and sales for the month.

Q: I trade on my own, why do I need NCE?

A: Because NCE gives you access to thousands of merchants, you are not restricted to a one-on-one relationship; you can tap into an entire network of products and services. A trade exchange eliminates the restrictions of one-on-one trading where each business must want what the other has to offer. An NCE Trade Broker works with you to bring your company new sales, increase market share and minimize cash outlay for everyday business expenses. Clients of an exchange use trade dollars, instead of cash, to handle their transactions. An exchange acts as a third party record keeper, providing monthly statements to clients, which reflects all trade purchases, sales, and a current trade dollar balance.

Q: How will my business profit from barter?

A: Barter produces new business – allowing you to expand your market and maintain your cash-paying customers. Barter conserves cash. For example, if you owned a hotel that had ten vacant rooms at $100/night and you need a new copy machine priced at $1,000. Barter provides a way in which you can buy your copier, fill your rooms (at your cost on the rooms) and maintain your cash. The same is true for filling empty tables for a restaurant, moving inventory for retailers and manufacturers or increasing billable hours for service business. Barter provides a competitive edge. Barter clients are new clients that bypass competing businesses to do business at your establishment while you are maintaining your existing cash clients.

Q: Monthly Statements

A: NCE acts as a third-party record keeper, providing clients with monthly statements, just like a bank, that reflect all trade purchases and sales and show the current trade-dollar balance and any fees due.

Q: How does the IRS view barter?

A: Trade income should be treated the same as cash income for tax purposes — there is no tax advantage or disadvantage. Trading is a marketing tool, not a tax tool. As with cash income, business-related trade purchases are tax deductible.

Q: Are there any tax advantages to bartering?

A: Barter income is treated the same as cash income. There are no tax advantages or disadvantages to bartering. Trading should be considered a marketing tool, not a tax tool. NCE provides your company with a 1099-B at the end of the year for all of the sales you have made on our network. Cash purchases that are normally tax deductible as business expenses are also tax deductible when purchased on trade.